Week 7: Thing 16

Prior to taking this course I had heard of a Wiki but really had no clue what it was. Although I think I am more familiar with it, I have yet to use one. After looking around at some and reading the PBWiki site, I wonder how I can use this in PE. I would love to have a project that would be relevant to PE as well as lend itself to be completed with the help of a wiki but I think I have to think a while on that...
I spent a lot of time searching for an example of a Wiki which related to PE and came up without anything so hopefully posting to the Sandbox will help me gain greater perspective!! Oh, the learning process...

week 6: Thing 15

I spent some time to explore the creative commons site and Larry Lessig's video How Creativity is Being Strangled by the Law, and found this to not only be interesting but also something much needed in our new technology driven age. It seems that with everything out there (blogs, videos, websites, etc) creative commons would be more well known. This is the first time I have heard about it.

Week 6: Thing 15

I just took some time and watched the non-Disney copyright video posted on this weeks discovery assignment. This video is great and should be seen by everyone. It really makes me look at Disney differently. A while back, around the semester break I think, LCMS had a great speaker visit us. He spoke to our students and staff on the topics of bullies and the overall treatment of people at school, those you know and do not know. Underlining his speech, he used the Beauty and the Beast movie. This video made me think about how the two relate and the impact Disney has had helping to form those images and perceptions in kids minds.

Plagiarism as a violation of copyright law...

On another note, I gave a written assignment in PE this year and could not have more disappointed with the amount of students who went online for information and just 'cut and pasted' onto the assignment. We had reviewed plagiarism and what it means, how to not do it, etc. and I know other teachers discuss and talk about it however, they still did it. I thought about making those redo the assignment then realized 90% of each class would have to. Next year I will show the non-Disney copyright video. Are the students just lazy?

Week 6: Thing 14

I spent some time exploring Technorati. This site makes my head spin! I am finding that although I thought I was fairly up to date with technology some of these weekly tasks are showing me differently! It took some time to dive into this site first starting out searching for 'classroom learning 2.0' which brought back so much info. Some useful, some not so much. Branching off and searching relative sites for my subject matter, it definately will take some time to weed out info to use. I was able to find some interesting blogs to read. However, loosing track of time, this will have to wait for a later date!

Week 6: Thing 13

While checking out del.icio.us I was able to find a cute website (www.totspot.com) for kids. It is an online babybook sort of thing. Right now this seems fun in order to communicate and share with our family back east. I am so hesitant of posting personal info. due to all the crazy things you hear. I will check it out...

Personally, I am not someone who has a ton of sites bookmarked on my computer. Maybe this is why sites like these are not of too much interest to me. Nor do I want to or have social relationships online. However, I do like 'peaking' into what others have bookmarked...I also like looking at model homes... To learn from others and see what is out there may be of interest to me.

Professionally, I could see using a bookmarking site if there is project to work on and you want to use specific sites. However, knowing how some students don't go too far above & beyond, would this limit any info they would be researching?

Week 5: Thing 12

Rollyo seems like it can be useful at certain times or for a specific project. I can see how it can be beneficial however, some of these sites appear to be more of headache than they are worth. I guess I am not looking online for everything. I am not opposed to technology but... It seems like you can potentially have a website for everything you want to do. Too many passwords...or am I missing the point?

Week 5

Today I was surprised to find out that when my husband changes the avatar in our email (we share) it automatically updates to my blog! Now I am a boy...
Also, I couldn't resist sharing the picture of Sydne! She sits up like this all the time & sometimes tries to sleep...it's too funny!